Coin-collector.



PATENTED OCT. 8, 1907.

J. L. MoQUARRIE. COIN COLLECTOR.

APRLIOATION FILED FEB.11. 1901.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

CLkZzzeabeS No. 867,746. Q V l PAIENTED OCT. a, 1907.

J. L. MoQUARRIE. 00m COLLECTOR.

APP-LIOATION FILED PEB.11, 1907.

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No. 867,746. I PATENTED OUT; s, 1907.

- J. L. MoQUARRIE. 00m GOLLEGTOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11, 1907. 6 SHEETB-SHBET 3.

PATENTED OCT. 8, 1907. J. L. MoQUARRIB. 00m COLLECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED r33. 11. 1901.

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Jamesj /z Qaa/r rc'e;

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

-IAMES L. MCQUARRIE, 0F OAK PARK, ILLINOIS,,ASSIGNOR TO. WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

COIN-COLLECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 8, 1907,.

Application filed February 11,1907. Saris-1N0. 856,713. I

' of the United States, residing at Oak Park, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Coin-Collectors, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description. 7

My invention relates to a coin collector for telephone pay stations.

I More particularly, my invention relates to a combination of two well-known types of mechanisms, one of which is used for signaling tothe central ofiice that a connection is desired, and the other "for indicating to the central officeoperator the amount of toll deposited.

The object of my invention is to provide means by which a coin of a given denomination may be used for either of the purposes before-mentioned.

My invention contemplates an improvement in a combination of two mechanisms which are in general similar to those disclosed respectively in patent to Charles E. Scribner, No. 728,309, issued May 19th, 1903, and in the patent to Frank R. McBerty and Howard B. Holmes, No. 846,500, issued March 12, 190.7. Broadly the. combination of such mechanisms is not new with me. My invention contemplates more particu larly the provision of means by which, in initiating a call, a coin of a given denomination is directed to mechanism for operating the line signal and by which after the central office operator responds to the call, a coin of the same or of a different denomination is directed into a different channel, as for example into the cash box in payment of the required toll.

I will describe my invention by reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred embodiment thereof, and the particular parts, im-

- provements or combinations which I consider as novel,

and of which I am the inventor, will be set forth in the appended claims.

Figures 1 and 2 are front and side elevations, respectively, of the coin collector of my invention, with the cover in section; Fig. 3 is a view showing the coin chute in elevation, portions of the casing upon which the chute is' supported, and the polarized electromagnet for disposing of the coin, being shown in section; Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary detail views of the mechanism for controlling the operation of a stop or guide which projects into the coin chute; Fig. 6 is a detail view of the coin chute, with its front wall removed; Fig. 7 is a perspective detail view of one of the parts; and Fig. 8 is a diagram of the circuits which may be employed in connection with the coin box embodying my invention.

Similar letters of reference designate thesame parts in each of the figures of the drawings.

The temporary coin-receiver or carrier 1. is mounted upon a rocking-shaft, 2, which is adapted to be actuated through the medium of the operating handle 3, to move the coin-receiver forward, so that a coin held in said coin-carrier will be dropped into the mouth or opening'4 of the coin chute 6. 7

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 6, the coin chute "has a passage or chamber 6, the opening into which is in alinement with the mouth 4 of the coin chute. The entrance to the channel 6 is normally blocked by an obliquely-disposedstop or guide 7, so that when said stop is in position, a coin will be den flected into a channel or passage 8 leading into the cash box B. The channel 6 has a branch 6 leading into the cash box and a refund chute 6 leading to the outside of the coin collector, respectively.

Two stops or pin 9, 9, normally project into the channel Gin position to arrest a falling coin and support the similar spring-actuated pivoted levers 12 which engage the armature upon opposite sides of its pivotal point. The structure and function of these parts arewellknown, and are substantially the same as those shown in the above-mentioned patent to Scribner, and hence a detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

It is sufiicient to say briefly that when acoin is in position on the stops 9, 9, it operates a lever 13 in the usual way to close contact springs 14. The armature 10 is adapted, as usual, to be tilted to one side or the other, according to the direction of the current in the coils of the polarized electromagnet, and thus the pin 9 or 9, as the case may be, is withdrawn to refund the coin [c through the channel (l or to deposit it in the cash box through the channel 6. It will be understood, therefore, that when a coin k is in position, resting upon stops 9, 9, it is designed to close a signaling circuit and indicate to the central office in the usual manner, that a connection is desired. If the call is for a local connection, the coin 7c is deposited or refunded, in the usual manner. Ifa toll connection is desired, the coin 7c is refunded, and the subscriber informed later by the toll operator as to the amount to. be deposited in the coin box in payment for such service. This toll should pass directly from the temporary coin-receiver, through the passage 8 of the coin chute, into the cash box. It

willbe seen, therefore, that it is necessary that under certain conditions, the stop 7 shall be withdrawn in order that a coin of a predetermined character may I pass into the channel 6 to signal the central office; and

that under other conditions the stop 7 shall remain in its normal position for the purpose ofguiding the deposited coin directly into the cash box.

The stop 7 projects through an opening in the casing of the coin chute5. Said stop forms the free end of a bent lever 15, which is pivoted at its opposite end, as at 16. The lever 15 carries a cam plate 17, which projects rearwardly from the same. A spring 18 tends to operate the lever 15 so as to withdraw the stop 7, but such movement of the lever is normally blocked by the e11- gagernent of the carn'surface of the plate 17 with an extension 19 of a caliper lever 20.

I will now describe the means and the conditions under which the removal of the stop 7 is effected. The toll signal mechanism shown in the drawings is substantially the same as that fully shown and described in the before mentioned patent of McBerty and Holnies, and hence I shall only describe so much of the same as may be necessary to fully disclose the improvement which forms the present invention.

The coin-carrier 1 has an opening 21 in one of its side walls, through which a coin held in said receiver may project. Said coin during the advance movement of the coin-carrier is adapted to operate the caliper lever 20, preferably by engaging a curved arm 22 thereof, the extent of displacement of said lever depending upon the diameter of the deposited coin. Referring'to Fig. 5, the normal position of the lever 20, and its position as shifted by a coin of the largest diameter that can be inserted in the coin receptacle,,are shown in dotted and full lines, respectively. A coin held in the carrier is not released therefrom until it has passed beyond the lower end of the arm 22, that is, it is not released until. the caliper lever 20 is moved to the utmost extent that a coin of such diameter will operate the same.

' As before stated, the plate 17 is springpressedinto engagement with the extension 19 of the lever 20. As the lever 20 is moved to the left, a depression 23 on the cam face of the plate 17 permits said plate and lever 15 to spring backward, thus withdrawing the stop 7 from the coin chute. (See Fig. 4). If the coin is of such denomination, as for example, a five-cent piece, as will finally set the lever in the position that will permit such withdrawal of the stop 7, as shown in Fig. 4, and, if the retraction of the lever 15 is not otherwise blocked, as will hereinafter be set forth, the coin is will fall directly from the carrier 1 into the passage 6. (oins of lesser or greater diameter will not so set the lever 20, and hence such coins will be deflected into the cash box. It is evident, therefore, that in initiating a call for a connection, a coin of predetermined size will be deposited from the carrier 1 into the coinchute 6 to be arrested by the stops 9, 9", in position to signal the central office and that any coin'of a different diameter will I be automatically prevented from entering the passage 6.

vantageous, as well as less confusing, if coins of any or of different denominations could be used in payment for toll. For example, if the toll required is twenty-five cents, it is desirable that a single coin of that denomination, or a combination of dimes and nickels, or five nickels may be used. Accordingly, I provide a stop or barrier 24, which after the central office operator has plugged in, in answer to a call, blocks the retraction of the lever 15 and of the stop 7 and hence guides all deposited coins whatever their denominations, into the passage 8. The stop 24 forms the downturned end of the armature 25 of a blocking magnet 26, which has its circuit completod only when the central office operator has plugged in and the subscriber has also placed a suitable coin in the carirer 1 and operated said carrier to deposit the coin. One point of 'control of the circuit through the magnet 26 is at the central oflice. The other point of control is at the normally-open switch springs 27, 28. An arm 30 carried by the lever 20 normally holds thespring 31 in such position that said spring presses the switch springs 27 and 28 open and closes the switch springs 28, 29. When the caliper lever 20 is moved by a coin in the initial movement of said lever, the arm 30 is also moved, releasing the spring 31, which swings back thus closing springs 27 and 28. It will be apparent, therefore, that in case the operator has plugged in, the circuit through the blocking magnet 26 is completed and its armature attracted, thus inserting the stop 24 in the path of the movement of the arm 32 of the plate 17 and blocking the movement of said plate.

Another feature shown in the drawings, though not my particular invention, increases the utility of the combination in which my invention is preferably embodied, comprises means for preventing fraudulent operation 6f the toll'rncchanism. For instance, with the mechanism thus far described, it is apparent that a calling party couldfbeat the coin-collector by the following method: After having deposited a nickel to signal the central OfilCO with a view to asking for a toll connection, the calling party could hold down the handle 3. The operator upon learning that a toll con: nection was desired, would refund the nickel. When the toll operator had secured the desired connection, she would tell the calling party to deposit the required toll. The calling party would thereupon release the handle 3, and the signal mechanism in returning to normal position would, for example, give one stroke on the gorig, such signal indicating to the centraloflico Dperator the deposit of a nickel, which nickel, however, is the one which has been refunded. In order to prevent such fraudulent operation, the signal circuit is open through the springs 28 and 29, as above described, while the signalmechanism is set, and hence it is impossible tosignal the central office except by releasing the handle 3.

I will now briefly describe the operation of the coincollector, in this connection also referring to the circuit diagram shown in Fig. 8. The subscriber desiring a connection, either local or toll, deposits a nickel into the opening in the casing leading to the carrier 1 and their pulls down the lever 3, thereby tilting the carrier into position to deposit the coin into the mouth 4 of the coin chute 5. In the initial movement of the carrier, the coin moves the lever 20, and the contacts of springs 27, and 28 are closed and those of 28 and 29 are opened. The extension 19 of the lever 20 being moved and held in the position shown iii Fig. 4, the stop 7 is withdrawn from the entrance to the passage 6, since, although the circuitthrough the blocking magnet 26 has been closed at 27, 28, it isstill open at the central office. The nickel, therefore, falls in position on the stops 9, 9"

and closes the contacts 14, 14. Upon the handle 3 being released, the carrier 1 returns toits initialposition, and the contacts of springs 28, and 29 are closed.

A signaling circuit is then closed from ground through contacts-14, 14, the polarized electromagnet 11, contacts oi -springs 27, 28, over the line L, through the line relay R, battery B to ground. The line lamp" l is thus lighted, in a manner well understood. The operator at the central oflice plugs in and inquires as to thew'ishes of the calling party. If a local connection is desired, no further deposit of coin is required, and the coin Ic held on the stops 9, 9' is deposited or refunded, as the case may be, in the usual manner,

In case a toll connection is desired, the nickel used to signal the central oflice is returned, and the toll op- 4 orator later informs the calling party of the amount required to obtain such connection. I The calling party then deposits, in theopening leading to the carrier: 1, a coin in whole or part payment of the toll, and again depresses the lever. In this case, as before,the carrier in its initial movement causes the deposited cointo operate the lever 20and moves the arm 30 so as to open contacts 28, 29 and close contacts 27, 28. Since the operator has plugged in, a metallic circuit is closed through the blocking magnet 26 which is bridged across the lines I/ and U, the contacts of said bridge being closed at springs 27, 28. The blocking electromagnet thereupon; attracts its armature 25 and the barrier 24 is moved down back of the arm 32 of the plate 17, thus blocking the withdrawal of the stop 7, whatever may be the character of the deposited coin. Such coin is then directed by the stop 7 through the channel 8 into the cash box. Upon the release of the handle 3, the denomination of thedeposited coin is indicated to the central office operator through the tollsignal mechanism in a well known manner, and as fully described in the before-mentioned patent of' McBerty and Holmes.

' Having thus fully described my invention, I claim:

1. In a coin collector for a telephone system, the combination with coin-actuated tolll indicating mechanism constructed and arranged to rece ve a coin deposited in said coin collector, of coin actuated line signaling mechanism, means, controlled by a coin of a predetermined size in initiating a call for aconnection, for directing the transfer of said coin to said line signaling mechanism, and additional means for blocking the transfer to said signaling mechanism of a like coin subsequently deposited in payment of toll. l

2. In a coin collector for a telephone system, the comhination with coin-actuated toll indicating mechanism constructed and arranged to receive a coin'deposited in and a channel leading to said line signaling mechanism,

means controlled. by a coin of a predetermined size, in initiating a call for a connection, for directing said coin into said latter channel, and means, controlled in the operation of said toll indicating mechanism, whereby a coin of the same or a different denomination subsequently deposited in the payment of toll, will be directed into the depositing channel.

3. In a coin collector for a telephone system, the combination with a movable temporary coin-receiver and toll indicating mechanism controlled by a coin in the movement of said coin-receiver, of coin-actuated line-signaling mechanism, a coin chute arranged to receive a coin from said temporary receiver, said chute having a channel for depositing coin and a channel for transferring coin to said line signaling mechanism, a guide normally preventingthe entrance of a coin into saidllatter channel, means controlled by acoin of predetermined size, in initiating a call for 'a connection, for placing said guide in position for said coin to enter said latter channel and means controlled in the operation of said toll indicating mechanism, whereby said guide is locked into position to guide coins, subsequently used in the payment of toll, into said depositing channel.

4, In a coin collector for a telephone, the combination with a cash box, of coin-actuated toll indicating mechanism constructed and arranged to receive a coin deposited, in said coin collector, coin actuated line signaling mechanism, means controlled by a coin, in initiating a call for a connection, for governing the transfer of said coin to said line signal mechanism, or to"said"cash --box and automatically-operated means for preventing the transfer to said line signaling mechanism of a coin subsequently used in the payment of toll., I

5. In a coin collector for a telephone, the combination with a'cash box, of coin-actuated toll indicating mechanism constructed and arranged to receive afcoin deposited in said coin collector coln actuated line signaling mechanism, means controlled by a coin, in initiating a call for a connection, for governing the transfer of said coin to said line signal mechanism, or to said cash box,

the transfer to said line signaling mechanism ,of a coin subsequently used'ln the payment for toll.

.6. In a coin collector for a telephone system, the combination with arnovable temporary coin-receiver, and toll indicating mechanism controlled by a coinin the movementlof said coin-receiver, of coin-actuated line-signaling mechanism, a coin chute arranged to receive a coin from said temporary receiver, said chute having a channel for depositing coin and a channel for transferring coin to said line signaling mechanism, a guide normally preventing the entrance of a coin into said latterchannel, means controlled by a 'coin of predetermined size, in

initiating a call for a copnection for placing said guide in position f or said coin to entersaid latter channel, an, electromagnet adapted to be energized upon the response of.the central ofliceoperator, and means controlled. by said magnet for preventing the movement of said guide from its normal position, whereby any suitable coin used in the payment of toll will be directed into said depositing channel;

and electromagnetically-controlled means for preventing In witness whereof, I, hereunto subscribe my name this 8th day of February A. D., 1907. 

